April 11, 2021

La Soufriere Likely To Cause More Damage And Destruction, Experts Warn

By Newsroom

Professor Richie Richardson, the leading geologist monitoring La Soufriere, has warned that the volcano is likely to wreak more havoc on the island of St. Vincent in the coming weeks.

With current activity pattern said to be similar to that of 1902 eruption, pyroclastic flow at the volcano could cause possible destruction of nearby communities.

Pyroclastic flow refers to the dense, destructive mass of very hot ash, lava fragments, and gases ejected explosively from a volcano, which typically flows at great speed.

Volcanic explosions which occurred overnight continuing into Sunday morning saw majority areas across the island shrouded in fresh ashfall, with the Grenadines, Barbados and St. Lucia also feeling the impact. 

According the the UWI Seismic Research Centre, tremors of up to 20 minutes long have been recorded over the last 12 hours, accompanied by thunder and lightning.

Explosions and accompanying ashfall of a similar or larger magnitude is expected to continue over the next few days.

 

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